Falling

Chapter One

My mom didn't have many friends. In fact it's probably safe to say she didn't have any friends at all. She was a very lonely woman. No friends. No family she spoke to, only me. I only had her as well. We had each other. Until my mother died.

She died of an aneurysm. Apparently she had one for quite some time. But that night, on that god damn night, her cerebral aneurysm hemorrhaged and she died. That is, according to what the doctors had told me.

My mother was to be buried next to her sister, who had died years ago. Aunt Shelly was the only friend my mother had but when Aunt Shelly died of lung cancer from all those cigarettes, my mother only had me. This is why I was the only one at her viewing. I was the only one there for her.

I stood in front of my mom's dead body. She looked very beautiful. More beautiful then I had ever seen her when she was alive. The mortician did a very good job making her presentable. Her ash blonde hair was clipped back so I could see her face. Her face looked clear and bright and despite being dead, she looked happy. Her sealed eyes were lined with makeup. When my mother was alive she never wore makeup, but it looked good on her. Her cheeks were rosy which made her look less... Dead, I guess.

For a while I just stared at her. Not knowing what to do. I was determined not to cry and it would work if I didn't think about it too hard.

It hasn't even been a week since it happened.

I came home late from a party. I wasn't even suppose to be out that night because I was grounded. But I didn't care, I wanted to see Tuck, my boyfriend. So I snuck out of my window. I was so furious at my mom for grounding me. When I came home she was trying to say my name. Her words blended together into something incomprehensible. All I did was ignore it. I thought maybe she was drunk. But when I saw her fall to the floor, seizing... Maybe if I hadn't ignored it, maybe if I had just stayed home in the first place like I was supposed to, then maybe... Just maybe...

I had started crying. Not a hysterical sob, but small tears. I could allow that. As long as there was no whimpering or gasping for air. I could handle a couple of tears.

I slowly reached for my mom's hand. When my hand finally met hers I gasped. I was surprised at how cold she felt. She felt icy and hallow.

"Lottie, you ready to go sweetheart?" My dad asked, coming from behind me. I jumped, suddenly aware that I was still on earth. Lottie, I hated when he called me that. It was either Charlotte or Charlie. No Lottie.

"Uh yeah dad, hold on. I- I'll be there in a second." My dad came closer to me and put a hand on my shoulder awkwardly. "Are you okay Charlotte?"

That was a stupid question.

No I'm not okay dad, my mom, you ex-wife just died.

He didn't seem sad at all. Of course he wasn't he still had his perfect little family with two kids and a beautiful wife. And now I was about to infiltrate that world. That perfect world.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I lie. He rubbed my arm gently.

"It's okay if you're not sweetie. She was your mom."

"I said I'm fine." I barked. He instantly let go of me. I softened my voice. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell. Let's just go, okay. We have a plane to catch and I still need to go say goodbye to Tuck." My dad nodded his head in agreement and lead us to his car. He attempted to open the car door for me but I beat him to it.

We drove in silence as we made it to Tuck's house. When my dad pulled into the drive way, I sighed, preparing myself for what I was about to do.

"How long do you think you'll be?" My dad asked carefully.